Sea Shepherd attempts criminal charges against Japanese whalers in the Netherlands

Environmental extremist group Sea Shepherd is now trying to have criminal charges filed against Japanese whalers in the Netherlands. As two of the group’s ships sail under Dutch flags, they the country’s authorities to prosecute the Japanese for acts of piracy for intentionally ramming their ships during their recent scuffle in the Southern Ocean.

Just days after returning to port in Australia following their latest campaign against Japan’s annual hunt, Sea Shepherd was represented by lawyer Liesbeth Zegveld in filing a criminal complaint with the Netherlands‘ environmental prosecutors. They are accusing the crew of the Nisshin Maru, the mothership of Japan’s whaling fleet, including captain Tomoyuki Ogawa, of crimes of “sea robbery,” a rarely used charge only recently being applied in the prosecution of Somali pirates. Zegveld’s statement said “The Nisshin Maru is guilty of piracy, violence against the crew of a sea vessel endangering safe navigation and the destruction of Sea Shepherd vessels; all three punishable offenses under the Dutch Criminal Code.”

The attorney specifies collisions that took place on February 20th and 25th, however the Japanese Fisheries Agency has disputed some of the incidents, claiming that the activists were responsible for the collisions. At the time, video footage was captured from a Japanese ship that strongly pointed to Sea Shepherd sailing dangerously close during refueling operations, or sailing directly in the path of Japan’s vessels, making a collision unavoidable. Zegveld previously represented Sea Shepherd in 2010 by trying to have the Dutch authorities prosecute Japan, however they declined to open a case. But as two ships now sail under a Dutch flag, the Steve Irwin and Bob Barker, Zegveld asserts that there is now a stronger foundation for criminal charges, and prosecutors “must accept responsibility and cannot argue that there is insufficient Dutch interest.”

On the other hand, it was Sea Shepherd that were labelled as “modern-day pirates” by Chief Judge Alex Kozinski of the 9th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals last month. The judge made the statement when overruling a Seattle court’s decision to side with Sea Shepherd by throwing out a lawsuit filed by the Japanese whalers who were trying to put a stop to the group’s aggressive actions at sea. Judge Kozinski specifically pointed to Sea Shepherd’s tactics of colliding with ships and throwing dangerous objects, including glass containers of acid, at the Japanese crew members. As three out of four of the activists’ ships arrived in Australia this week, minus fugitive founder Paul Watson, current leader Bob Brown claimed they were trying to uphold Australia’s ruling that the Japanese whale hunts were illegal. It would seem they think their form of piracy is ok as long as it’s for a good cause.

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The US court case was never thrown out the ICR had asked for a preliminary injunction and it was not granted, that decision has been reversed. It seems the sscs wants to spend as much as possible in the court system, how many cases is this now? 7 I think…

Far East

The Sea Shepherd wants to sue in the Netherlands? That would be interesting to see them get defeated. I find it unlikely a Dutch court siding with those modern-day pirates.

Hayashi

What is interesting I think is that the strategy seems to be to try and get the whalers labeled as pirates as well. So when both sides become “pirates” it would level the playing field. I honk any strategist would do the same.

medammit

What is it with their cravings for whale and shark? Seriously that country is sideways…ooo if sea creetcha eez indainjawed eet taste a sooo mucha a bettah den not so much in indainjawed sea creetcha… a bit racist? maybe but how do you think the whales feel about being shot draged and gutted the whole time yer alive?

Here I and the rest of the world thought shark was a CHINESE delicacy, yes you’re a racist.

Truth

Shark is eaten and used in many ways Japan, and Japan is both and importer and exporter of shark products, everything from steaks to ovaries to liver oil and skin. It has been exporting fins to China for at least 200 years.

However, fin soup is not Japanese but is made in Chinese restaurants in Japan of which there are many.

So, no, he’s probably not a racist. The industry is in decline because of commercial over fishing.

RP

About time, the ICR must understand they cannot not dis-regard International law and do as they please in International ocean waters. What all involved with Japanese whaling is the world is watching and they have brought great shame and embarrassment upon the nation of Japan on the International stage.

The real criminals and pirates here are all involved in Japanese Whaling.

RP

Japan and every other nation in the world must understand Earth’s resources are not UN-limited and do not exist for exploitation by greedy members of humanity. Until all nations of planet Earth comes to the realization that everything in interdependent and connected in some way, the future of humanity is doomed to extinction.

ddpalmer

So people should stop eating because it uses resources?

Hayashi

Is that what you think he means? Really?

ddpalmer

Are you psychic and know what he means? Really?

Hayashi

I know what he means by what he said. I believe he means that exhausting limited resources is a natural result if we are not careful with consumption. And you know what’s great about this round mr. ddpalmer? I can win this by simply asking mr. RP.

Mr. RP, did I understand you correctly? Or is depalmer correct are you saying we should stop eating ?

ddpalmer

First miss hayashi, with your posting ” I believe he means…”, you have
already lost this round because when you wrote your original comment you didn’t
know what he meant.

Second, my post was pointing out the logical flaw in his premise
by taking it to the extreme.

And lastly the resource in question is not being over consumed so his
argument was invalid to begin with.

Hayashi

You’re right I lost the moment I reacted to any of your comments. People share their ideas openly here but for the most part remain respectful. All of my responses to you have been met with rudeness from the beginning. It made me want to “win” against you and that was the moment I lost. I hope others reading this can learn from my mistakes, don’t be like me. Don’t let someone you don’t know get under your skin and make you waste your time on petty bickering. In the end I wanted to “win” an argument that is meaningless against a person who I doesn’t even matter. I was the idiot here.

Truth

No, Hayashi, your comments were just fine. It was obvious what the individual was saying.

By saying, “l believe” you were just being polite and ddpalmer is just habitually impolite.

Whalers SUCK

The Japanese use money and influence to bully nations around the world to look the other way so they can slaughter every marine mammal possible. It’s shameful. But we will fight them every step of the way since governments are too impotent to do anything. And the Judge who branded Sea Shepherds as pirates is a known pervert and his opinion is laughable, he shouldn’t even be sitting on the bench. Long Live Sea Shepherd!!

ddpalmer

It wasn’t “a judge” that labelled Sea Shepherd as pirates, it was a panel of judges. But lying and twisting facts is the SSCS way, right?

Hayashi

Anything goes if it works right? It would be irresponsible for them to

ddpalmer

I didn’t say that or imply that. Just a pathetic strawman by someone who has no rational point.

Truth

No, it wasn’t a straw man, Judge Kozinski perversion was a naked women on all fours painted to look like cows and a video of a half-dressed man running around with a sexually erect donkey. He is well known for his interest in pornography.

The opinion was definitely written by Judge Kozinski, not the panel, and it was not received well by all legal experts.

It seems the only reason he could accuse Sea Shepherd of being pirates was because the United States refuse to recognize Australia’s claim on the waters (it wants to reserve the right to make its own claims in Antarctica in the future).

ddpalmer

Be careful, your makeup is cracking and the troll is emerging into the light of day.

Did the legally allowed actions of any of the judges on the panel enter the discussion? Is your personal attack on one of the judges any better than a strawman? Did all the other judges agree with the opinion or not?

So the opinion of a US judge was based on the legal position of the US. Does that surprise you? And your supposition on why the US takes that position is interesting but irrelevant and just an opinion.

Hayashi

I didn’t say you said that, that was my idea, if two sides are going against each other on issues outside conventional settings, anything goes, you have to do what you must to achieve your goals. I don’t think it’s pathetic, but you can think what you want. Lets try to remain respectful ok?

Nan

The Japanese use money and influence to bully nations around the world to look the other way so they can slaughter every marine mammal possible. It’s shameful. But we will fight them every step of the way since governments are too impotent to do anything. And the Judge who branded Sea Shepherds as pirates is a known pervert and his opinion is laughable, he shouldn’t even be sitting on the bench. Long Live Sea Shepherd!!!!!!!!!!

Truth

That’s fine but please don’t accuse all Japanese. You use the term as if you were at war with the entire nation and the entire nation is involved. Only a tiny minority are so please be specific and don’t offend innocent people.

ddpalmer

That’s fine but are you just one person or did ‘Whalers SUCK’ just copy you (or you copy him)?

ddpalmer

“But as two ships now sail under a Dutch flag, the Steve Irwin and Bob
Barker, Zegveld asserts that there is now a stronger foundation for
criminal charges”
So in the Netherlands if you have one car and it is vandalized the police will ignore it, but if you have two cars then they will respond?

LOLshepherds

Pot calling the kettle black

Hayashi

As stated above its a strategy, court battles are won based on money and influence. If SS believes they have any chance they have to try. Hypothetically if the whalers manage to gain pirate status it would have serious implications on the legitimacy of heir operations. So it’s much more than mere name calling.

Dtl949

So much for impartial journalism…

bluebutterfly2

The Japanese government is breaking international law by whaling in a whaling SANCTUARY. Sanctuaries are places where wildlife is protected! The brave Sea Shepherds are blocking the slipway, throwing out foul lines, and throwing rotten butter. These are not acts of piracy, but they are actions made by people who have had enough of Japan’s disregard for the law. Whales are sentient creatures – intelligent mammals. The death they suffer at the hands of the whalers by harpoon and rifle would not be seen in an abattoir in America. There are laws preventing the suffering of animals here. Clearly, Japan wants a place at the table when the globe focuses attention on the resources available in the Antarctic. If you can claim that you have had an economic interest there, you will share in the conversations for future use. Give it up! We will never stop until the whales are free from your death ships! Roll tide, Captain Watson and the Sea Shepherd captains and crew!

ddpalmer

The whale SANCTUARY doesn’t apply to whaling under Article VIII, so no law being broken.

Actually they are the acts of pirates as explained by the court.

Cows and pigs are sentient creatures-intelligent creatures. And abattoirs in America don’t have to deal with 7 ton aquatic creatures.

At least get your facts straight. The repeated lies get boring and make the people who keep posting them look stupid.

Truth

I’ve read Article VIII. It does not mention the whale sanctuary at all.

The Japanese whalers are clearly just deliberately ignoring the Australian’s claims and wishes, just like the Chinese are ignoring the Japanese claims and wishes regarding the Senkaku Islands.

ddpalmer

I didn’t say that Article VIII mentioned the sanctuary. But good strawman.

If you read Article VIII then you know that it clearly says whaling under Article VIII is exempt from all other parts of the ICRW. The sanctuary be a resolution passed under the ICRW is thus covered by Article VIII. But please continue with your strawman and illogical claims. They just continue to show the weakness of your arguments and the lengths you will go to in an attempt to support your claims.

Hayashi

What is it with you and straw men?

Truth

Are we talking about the Southern Ocean Whale Sanctuary or the Australian Whale Sanctuary established in 2000, under the Environment Protection and Biodiversity Conservation Act 1999 of Australia and which includes all of Australia’s EEZ including the Antarctic waters?

In 2008 the Australian Federal Court ruled it was illegal under Australian law for the Japanese whaling fleet to kill whales in the Sanctuary and yet the Japanese continue to kill Whales every year.

Many scientists believe that Japan’s whale research program fails to meet minimum standards for credible science and that their actions are really just commercial activities. I agree with that view.

It’s not real science of marine mammals, its commercial research for commercial ends and it’s just a front for loss making commercial activities.

Hayashi

There is a lot of criticism of both sides here. I may be wrong but i think the only one true measure of success here is the number of whales caught or saved each year. Whatever happens we can probably assume is the result of strong efforts and or mistakes on both sides. So as it stands the official numbers are not yet out as far as I know. If the catch is less than last year maybe SS isn’t doing too bad.

EXPAT

AUSSIE HYPOCRISY — HOW MANY COWS AND SHEEP DO YOU KILL?

Think

Sea Shepherd? None. They are vegans, they are not Australian, and cows and sheep are not endangered species.

I think you are a bit confused here. It’s not WWIII and Sea Shepherd does not represent any nation’s nationalistic interests.

voodoo baby

We humans have raped the land and seas too hard and too fast for far too long. Its time for people to accept this as part of who we are or were and we need to be better people towards all, to see the beauty, protect it, defend it any way we can. Old ways need to die out because our natural world cannot support this over abuse. There are so many people and we must change. Whatever it takes, take a stand on what is right, teach your children well.

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